THE DYATLOV PASS INCIDENT

INTRODUCTION

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Hiking in mountains is a popular hobby among many thrill-seekers today. They have the energy and fearlessness to trek the globe’s most fearful landscapes. Despite the thrill, many of these individuals are also aware of the dangers that awaits them in these peaks. Mt. Everest, for instance, is known to be scattered with the bodies of hundreds of explorers who failed to conquer those peaks. Another reminder of the brutal danger of mountains is the Dyatlov Pass Incident, an event so strange and vicious that science has yet to provide a solution to this case.

OCCURRENCE

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The Ural Mountains in Russia was the destination for a group of hikers. Igor Dyatlov, along with nine other hikers, made their way towards the mountains for an expedition they had planned. All of the hikers were experienced in hiking and were students at Ural Polytechnical Institute. The group had originally planned to take a couple of weeks exploring the mountain range, but once it became clear to family members that they were not returning, officials were immediately notified.

On January 27th, 1959, the group began making their way to Gora Otorten, a nearby hill in the mountain range. Igor had mentioned beforehand that the group would notify a nearby sports club once everyone returned safely to the base of the mountain. They did not make their original deadline, which was expected of course due to bad weather. As days continued to pass with no sign, it began to alarm many back home. One of the hikers, Yuri Yudin, began to suffer various health ailments during the expedition and disbanded early. He would be the only member of the group to survive the expedition.

The abandoned campsite of the group was found on February 26th. The conditions of the campsite were puzzling to the search parties. Footsteps of barefooted individuals, possibly up to nine, were scattered throughout the snow on the site. The tent was ripped from the inside and tattered, suggesting they were escaping from something inside the tent. Food was discovered, prepared on a plate as if the group was planning on consuming it soon. The campsite was mainly empty, but the belongings of the hikers were left behind, such as shoes. The reason why the hikers would abandon their shoes in the extreme cold and snow remain a mystery to researchers. Outside of the campsite, the search group makes a startling discovery. The first two bodies of the hikers would be found, near a burned-out fire. They only had underwear on. Three more hikers would be found dead. The search group initially suspected that these three hikers were attempting to return to the campsite but died along the way. The final four would not be discovered until months later. They were found deeper into the woods from the burned-out fire. They had on clothing from the other hikers, suggesting that these final four hikers took the clothing from their fellow group members.

The injuries of the hikers are brutal. Six hikers reportedly died from hypothermia while the other three died from extreme physical trauma. Some of the more stranger injuries the hikers endured included missing eyes, a missing tongue, a fractured skull, immense chest fractures, and missing eyebrows. Even stranger is the fact that high levels of radiation have been detected on the clothing of one of the hikers. The verdict for the group was that they all died from a “compelling natural force.” However, many theorists argue against this verdict and propose their own theories for how the group met their mysterious end.

THEORIES ---------------

There are many theories revolving around this incident, some with more evidence than others. Initially, one of the many indigenous groups in the mountains were suspected. The Mansi People inhabit the region where the group was found. They are hunters and gatherers, so it was originally proposed that the group was killed by the Mansi People. However, the tribe is known for being extremely peaceful in the region. Furthermore, medical tests concluded that the chest fractures some hikers suffered could not have been produced by a human, ruling out the Mansi People.

The official and one of the least popular theories suggest that an avalanche caused the group’s death. Supposedly, the group ripped open the tent in a panic after an avalanche and split up on accident due to the darkness of the mountains. They were bare clothed because of the sudden avalanche and died in the cold. Many of the injuries, such as the missing tongue, were explained by predators and wildlife consuming the hikers. There is a lot of evidence against this theory. After this event, over a hundred expeditions were issued, and none of them stated an avalanche could occur. The campsite and surrounding areas had absolutely no sign or debris that an avalanche occurred. Furthermore, if an avalanche did occur, the bodies of the hikers should have been swept away and much further apart.

A popular theory states that their campsite was bombed by the Soviets. Documentation at the time shows that the site was a testing zone for Soviet parachute mines - bombs that fell from the sky and exploded. Many theorists believe that the hikers left the tent in a hurry after hearing the bombs go off. They ended up getting separated during the chaos. Some of the hikers attempted to return to the campsite to retrieve supplies but died during the bombing. This would explain many of the questionable injuries the hikers faced, such as the chest fractures. It would also explain the radiation that was found on the clothing of a hiker. However, if parachute mines were the culprit, this theory would not explain the mysterious burned-out fire found near the campsite. Also, radiation should have been found plentifully throughout the hikers and campsite, but it was not. Several theorists point to the accounts of a new group of hikers nearby. Apparently, this group spotted mysterious glowing orbs floating across the sky. Theorists pointed out that these orbs may have been parachute mines, but it is not confirmed.

Supernatural theories also exist. Some state that large animals and creatures, such as Bigfoot, may have attacked the hikers. These theories are generally ignored since no footprints of animals were on the campsite - only those of the hikers. UFO experts point to aliens, stating that the spotting of glowing orbs in the region indicated that UFOs and aliens may have killed the hikers.

The Russian Government announced they were reopening the case in 2019. Today, no explanation has been put forth for this strange event. The nine hikers suffered tremendously on what was supposed to be a fun trip. Igor’s mother did not want him to explore the mountains. She instead insisted that he focus on his education, but Igor wanted to spend time hiking with friends. This event remains famous for its unique and brutal circumstances. Nearly a hundred theories have been placed forward to explain the event, but all have failed to succeed.

SOURCES

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The Dyatlov Pass Incident (https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/the-dyatlov-pass-incident)

Russia reopens investigation into 60-year-old Dyatlov Pass mystery (https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/04/europe/dyatlov-pass-incident-scli-intl/index.html)

Dyatlov Pass Incident (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dyatlov_Pass_incident)

There were nine… (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/extra/SoLiOdJyCK/mystery_of_dyatlov_pass)